Spelthorne

Spelthorne's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in religion and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 96,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Spelthorne increased by 5.8%, from almost 90,400 to 95,600.

The addition of about 5,200 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Spelthorne was home to, on average, 15 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Fewer people worked long hours

Census 2011 data also show a change in the working patterns of many in Spelthorne.

The percentage of employed people in Spelthorne working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13% in 2001 to 10% in 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Spelthorne decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Spelthorne, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Spelthorne

The number of people in Spelthorne that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 13,000 in 2001 to just under 22,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 23% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Spelthorne that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 68,000 in 2001 to just under 61,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 6,500 to about 6,700. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.2% to 7.0%.

Just over 2,300 people (1.1%) said they were Hindu, up from just under 950 in 2001 (2.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Spelthorne increased by 8.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Spelthorne by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Spelthorne

The number of people in Spelthorne from the White ethnic groups increased from about 85,000 in 2001 to about 83,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 94% to 87% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Spelthorne from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 2,900 in 2001 to about 7,300 in 2011 (from 3.2% to 7.6%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 1,200 to about 2,400 (from 1.3% to 2.5%).

Just over 1,500 people (0.6%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 520 in 2001 (1.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Spelthorne decreased by 7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Spelthorne by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Spelthorne residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.6% to 4.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Spelthorne residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Spelthorne decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Spelthorne, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

The percentage of households with children increased in Spelthorne, but at a slower rate than in nearby Hillingdon.

In Spelthorne, the proportion of households with children increased from 28% in 2001 to 29% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Hillingdon increased from 32% to 36%.

Across the South East, the share of households with children increased from 29% to 29%.

The proportion of households without children in Spelthorne fell from 62% to 59%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 10% to 11%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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Area report data

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